Energy absorber

Abstract

An energy absorber includes a housing, a bearing housing positioned within the housing, a main connection point connected to a first receiver, and a threaded rod connected through a bearing and having an end connected to the first receiver at a first end of the housing. The bearing is positioned in the bearing housing. Compressible elements of the threaded rod compress against the bearing to absorb energy upon exceeding a force threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An energy absorber comprising:
 a housing; 
 a bearing housing positioned within the housing; 
 a main connection point coupled to a first receiver; and 
 a threaded rod coupled through a bearing and having an end coupled to the first receiver at a first end of the housing, the bearing positioned in the bearing housing, wherein compressible elements comprising threads of the threaded rod compress against the bearing, and upon a force acting on the main connection point exceeding a force threshold, the threaded rod is forced past the bearing and out of the first end of the housing as one or more of the compressible elements of the threaded rod are compressed to absorb the force. 
 
     
     
       2. The energy absorber of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a tension spring coupled to a tension rod; and 
 a top attachment having a second receiver at a second end of the housing, the second receiver coupled to an end portion of the tension rod. 
 
     
     
       3. The energy absorber of  claim 2 , wherein the bearing is positioned in a groove in the threaded rod. 
     
     
       4. The energy absorber of  claim 3 , wherein the bearing includes bearing balls that press against the threads of the threaded rod. 
     
     
       5. The energy absorber of  claim 4 , wherein upon a force acting on the top attachment compresses the tension spring, and the tension rod is pulled out of a second end of the housing. 
     
     
       6. The energy absorber of  claim 2 , wherein the threaded rod includes a force or fall event indicator, and the tension rod includes a tension indicator. 
     
     
       7. The energy absorbing device of  claim 2 , wherein upon a force acting on the top attachment, the tension spring is compressed and the tension rod is pulled out of a second end of the device housing. 
     
     
       8. The energy absorber of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking pin that couples through the first receiver and a through hole of the threaded rod;
 wherein the housing is sealed or semi-sealed. 
 
     
     
       9. The energy absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes at least one inspection window. 
     
     
       10. The energy absorber of  claim 1 , wherein the threaded rod is a threaded bolt, and the first receiver comprises a nut coupled to the main connection point or a threaded housing. 
     
     
       11. An energy absorbing device comprising:
 a device housing including a compression device housing; 
 a main connection point coupled to a first receiver; and 
 a rod including compressible energy absorbing elements and having an end coupled to the first receiver, wherein the compressible energy absorbing elements comprise threads of the rod that compress against a compression device, and upon a force acting on the main connection point exceeding a force threshold, the threaded rod is forced past the compression device and out of a first end of the device housing as one or more of the compressible energy absorbing elements of the rod are compressed to absorb the force. 
 
     
     
       12. The energy absorbing device of  claim 11 , further comprising
 a tension spring coupled to a tension rod; and 
 a top attachment having a second receiver at a second end of the device housing, the second receiver coupled to an end portion of the tension rod. 
 
     
     
       13. The energy absorbing device of  claim 12 , wherein the rod includes a force or fall event indicator, and the tension rod includes a tension indicator. 
     
     
       14. The energy absorbing device of  claim 11 , further comprising.a locking pin that couples through the first receiver and a through hole of the threaded rod;
 wherein the device housing is sealed or semi-sealed, and the housing includes at least one inspection window. 
 
     
     
       15. An energy absorber comprising:
 an energy absorber housing; 
 a compression device housing positioned within the energy absorber housing; 
 a main connection point coupled to a first receiver; 
 a rod coupled through a compression device and having an end coupled to the first receiver at a first end of the energy absorber housing, the compression device positioned in the compression device housing, wherein compressible elements comprising threads of the rod compress against the compression device, and upon a force acting on the main connection point exceeds a force threshold, the rod is forced past the compression device and out of the first end of the energy absorber housing as one or more of the compressible elements of the rod are compressed to absorb the force; 
 a tension spring coupled to a tension rod; and 
 a top attachment having a second receiver at a second end of the energy absorber housing, the second receiver coupled to an end portion of the tension rod. 
 
     
     
       16. The energy absorbcr of  claim 15 , further comprising a locking pin that couples through the first receiver and a through hole of the rod;
 wherein:
 the energy absorber housing is sealed or semi-sealed; and 
 the energy absorber housing includes at least one inspection window. 
 
 
     
     
       17. The energy absorber of  claim 16 , wherein upon a force acting on the top attachment the tension springis compressed, and the tension rod is pulled out of a second end of the housing. 
     
     
       18. The energy absorber of  claim 15 , wherein the rod includes a force or fall event indicator, and the tension rod includes a tension indicator.